The Winnebago County Community Foundation (WCCF) held its 2023 grant awards celebration at Heritage Town Center in Buffalo Center on June 27, announcing the distribution of $147,667 to 18 projects of organizations serving Winnebago County through its 2023 grant cycle.

“Our local nonprofits are working hard to improve the quality of life for people who live, work and play in Winnebago County and the Winnebago County Community Foundation is honored to be able to support these efforts through impactful grantmaking,” said Alicea Porter, chair of the WCCF committee.

The grant recipient organizations, project each grant will fund and grant amounts are listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

• Brickstreet Theatre, Raise Our Voices, $10,000
• Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation, Lake Mills July Jubilee 2023, $5,000
• Winnebago County Fair Association, 4-H Building Renovation, $25,000

Community Betterment

• City of Rake, Multi-Use Walking Path/Park Area, $7,000
• City of Scarville, Fire Department - Fire Station Water Holding Tank, $25,000
• Lake Mills Entertainment, Building Improvements, $16,150
• North Iowa Community Development, Computer Equipment, $1,500

Education & Youth Development

• Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, Winnebago County Girl Scout Science Discovery, $3,310
• Iowa College Access Network, Addressing High School Preparedness and Financial Aid Access, $1,000
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Agriculture Education in Winnebago County Schools, $5,000
• North Iowa Community Schools, IXL - Math Intervention & Licenses, $7,343

Health

• City of Buffalo Center, Ambulance Crew - Replace Equipment, $3,700
• Kum-A-Long Club, Window Replacement, $8,706
• Timely Mission Nursing Home, Steam Table, $10,500
• YSS of North Iowa, AED Machines, $3,458

Human Service

• Elderbridge Agency on Aging, Congregate and Home-Delivered Meal Program, $5,000
• Food Bank of Iowa, Feeding Winnebago County, $5,000
• North Iowa Food for Families, North Iowa Food for Families, $5,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Winnebago County. Committee members include: Beth Ades-Hanson, Tina Henely, Brad Jones, Conner Kem, Jenny Kramersmeier, Marty Pins, Alicea Porter (chair), Dr. Bob Sarver and Rachel Stensrud.

Grants are awarded through WCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Winnebago County in order to be considered for funding. More information about the WCCF can be found at www.winnebagoccf.org.

The Winnebago County Community Foundation (WCCF) announced its 2022 grant awards distribution of $133,079.74 to 24 projects of organizations serving Winnebago County through its 2022 grant cycle.

“These 24 projects of organizations are great representations of the impactful work being done in our community and the Winnebago County Community Foundation is proud to support them,” said Alicea Porter, chair of the WCCF governing committee.

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount is listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

• Brickstreet Theatre, Inc., Butts in Seats, $4,000
• Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation, July Jubilee Community Night, $2,000
• Winnebago County Fair Association, Portable Bleacher Seating, $10,000
• Winnebago Historical Society, Steeple Repair, $2,000

Community Betterment

• City of Leland, Alarm/Security System, $4,228
• City of Scarville, Community Center & Fire Station, $10,000
• City of Thompson, Swimming Pool Repairs, $5,000
• Forest City Firefighters Association, Grass/Brush Truck, $15,000
• Friends of the Firemen, ISICS Radios, $6,000
• Lake Mills Entertainment, Inc., Tuck-Pointing of Important Downtown Buildings, $13,698.78
• Winnebago County, Sheriff’s Office – Golf Cart/Trailer, $10,000

Education & Youth Development

• City of Buffalo Center, Buffalo Center Little League, $3,800
• City of Lake Mills, Parks Department – Pool Field Renovation, $10,000
• Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, Winnebago County Girl Scouts Space Science Exploration, $1,250
• Iowa College Access Network, Raising Attainment Levels in Education and the Workforce, $1,000
• Little Bison Childcare Center, New Changing Tables, $3,463.46
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Agriculture Education in Winnebago County Schools, $2,000
• North Iowa Area Community College Foundation, NIACC Health Occupations Careers Camp, $1,000

Health

• Forest City Family YMCA, Window Coverings, $5,000
• Kum-A-Long Club, Window Replacement, $6,000
• Timely Mission Nursing Home, Bathing System, $7,500

Human Service

• Duncan Heights, Inc., Computer System Update, $4,000
• Food Bank of Iowa, Fighting Childhood Hunger in Winnebago County, $5,000
• Francis Lauer Youth Services, Bedroom Furnishings, $1,139.50

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Winnebago County. Committee members include: Beth Ades-Hanson, Cassie Johnson (ex-officio), Mike Johnson, Brad Jones, Chad Kohagen, Jenny Kramersmeier, Marty Pins, Alicea Porter (chair), Dr. Bob Sarver and Rachel Stensrud.

Grants are awarded through WCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Winnebago County in order to be considered for funding. The 2023 grant cycle opens February 1 with an application deadline of April 1. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.winnebagoccf.org.

The Winnebago County Community Foundation announced $102,357.50 in grant funding to 29 projects of organizations serving Winnebago County as part of its 2021 grant cycle.

The Community Foundation will not hold its annual award celebration this year. Grant checks will be mailed directly to the nonprofit organizations.

“The Winnebago County Community Foundation is proud to partner with our local nonprofit organizations and support their work to make Winnebago County a better place for everyone,” said Alicea Porter, chair of the Winnebago County Community Foundation governing committee.

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding areas.

Arts & Culture

• Brickstreet Theatre, Sounds and Voices, $1,500
• Lake Mills Entertainment, Help the Mills Theater Through the Pandemic, $4,049
• Winnebago County Fair Association, Grandstand Announcer's Stand (Crow's Nest), $7,500
• Winnebago Historical Society, Tractor Museum Upgrade, $1,500

Community Betterment

• City of Buffalo Center, ISICS Radios, $7,000
• City of Buffalo Center, Pickle Ball Court, $5,000
• City of Lake Mills, Park & Rec Department - Lake Mills Mini Golf Course, $5,000
• City of Rake, Fire Department - Fire Truck, $7,500
• City of Rake, Multi-Use Walking Path/Park Area, $2,500
• City of Thompson, Library - Asbestos Abatement, $3,200
• Lake Mills Lions Club, Lions Park Beautification Project, $1,000

Education & Youth Development

• Boy Scouts of America - Winnebago Council, Eliminating Barriers to Access, $1,000
• Forest City Family YMCA, Flooring Replacement in Child Care Room, $5,000
• Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, Winnebago County Girl Scout STEM Discovery, $1,000
• Iowa College Access Network, Winnebago County Career and College Attainment Post COVID, $1,000
• Lake Mills Family Center, Toddler Room Wall and Window Updates, $7,249.12
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Ag Education for Winnebago County Schools, $2,000
• North Iowa Area Community College Foundation, NIACC Precision Agriculture Tractor, $1,000
• North Iowa Community School, TI 84 Classroom Calculator Set, $1,000
• The Set Me Free Project, Winnebago County Expansion Project, $5,000
• United Way of North Central Iowa, Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) for Winnebago County, $3,000

Environment & Animal Welfare

• City of Forest City, Winnebago River Dam Revitalization Project, $5,000

Health

• Forest City Ambulance Service, Community AEDs, $5,000
• Timely Mission Nursing Home, 3D Ultrasound, $7,494.38

Human Service

• Food Bank of Iowa, Fighting Childhood Hunger in Winnebago County, $5,000
• Francis Lauer Youth Services, Bedroom Basics, $1,865
• Iowa Legal Aid, Updating Technology to Better Serve Low-Income Winnebago County Residents, $1,000
• North Iowa Food for Families, North Iowa Food for Families, $2,000
• Our Savior's Lutheran Church – Leland, Our Saviors Food Pantry, $2,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Winnebago County. Committee members include: Beth Ades-Hanson, Cassie Johnson (ex-officio), Mike Johnson, Brad Jones, Chad Kohagen, Jenny Kramersmeier, Shawn Miller, Marty Pins, Alicea Porter (chair), Alexis Richter, Dr. Bob Sarver and Rachel Stensrud.

Grants are awarded through Winnebago County Community Foundation’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of: arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health, and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Winnebago County in order to be considered for funding. The 2022 grant cycle opens February 1, 2022, with an application deadline of April 1, 2022. The grant guidelines and application will be posted prior to the cycle opening at www.winnebagoccf.org.

The Winnebago County Community Foundation announced $96,568 in grant funding to 20 projects of organizations serving Winnebago County as part of its 2020 grant cycle.

The Community Foundation made the decision to not hold its annual award celebration due to COVID-19. Grant checks will be mailed directly to the nonprofit organizations.

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding areas.

Community Betterment

• Forest City Fire Fighters Association, SCBA Gear Replacement, $15,000
• Francis Lauer Youth Services, YSS Francis Lauer, $2,000
• Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation, Updated Computer and Software Programs, $3,200

Education

• City of Thompson, Library - STEM Activities, $1,010
• Iowa College Access Network, Student & Educator Support Post COVID-19, $1,000
• Lake Mills Family Center, Operating Expenses, $6,438
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Agriculture Education for Winnebago County Schools, $1,000
• North Iowa Area Community College Foundation, Nursing Improvements for Emergency Training, $1,000
• North Iowa Food for Families, Food for Families, $5,000

Health

• Forest City Ambulance Service, Personal Protective Equipment for COVID-19 Pandemic, $10,000
• Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Our Saviors Food Pantry, $2,000
• Timely Mission Nursing Home, Project Protect, $8,000

Human Service

• City of Lake Mills, Fire Department - 6000 psi Compressor, $6,000
• Crisis Intervention Service, Crisis Intervention Service, $2,000
• Duncan Heights, Air Conditioning Project, $4,220
• Elderbridge Agency on Aging, Material Aid, $5,000
• Forest City Family YMCA, Coronavirus Relief, $10,000
• Iowa Legal Aid, Stabilize Low-Income Residents & Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic, $2,000
• Little Bison Childcare Center, General Operating Support, $6,700

Scarville Firemen's Association, Grain Rescue Tube and Turnout Gear, $5,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Winnebago County. Committee members include: Beth Ades-Hanson, Ken Baker, Alexis Bodzioch, Lisa Durby (chair), Mike Johnson, Chad Kohagen, Shawn Miller, Marty Pins, Alicea Porter and Rachel Stensrud.

Grants are awarded through Winnebago County Community Foundation’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of: art and culture, community betterment, education, environment, health, historic preservation and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Winnebago County in order to be considered for funding. The 2021 grant cycle opens February 1, 2021 with an application deadline of April 8, 2021. The grant guidelines and application will be posted prior to the cycle opening at winnebagoccf.org.